This
was built as a turnpike in 1741 and rebuilt as a pound lock in 1767 or
1768 in Broxbourne
Gull, which was an existing flood channel separate from but roughly
parallel to Broxbourne Mill Stream. It is not a man-made channel,
although it may have been improved over the years. The map below
shows the Gull and the location of Cartagena turnpike sometime soon
after 1741.

Undated map Hertford
Archives ref B479

All turnpikes and navigable
weirs were flash locks, providing a flash of surging water to aid the
passage of boats and barges. However, turnpikes (on the Lee,
anyway), were built for the express purpose of aiding navigation,
whereas the other weirs had their own primary purpose of penning water
for the miller or trapping fish. Surviving drawings show that turnpikes
on the Lee were built with guillotine gates; weirs were built with
removable boards.

26.6.1742 " Upon
Complaint this day made unto this Court by Edward Want Servant to Mr
John ffrench Occupier of Broxbourne Mills in the said County of Hertford
and keeper of the Turnpike lately erected in Broxbourne Gull near the
said Mills. That as the said Edward Want was at the said Turnpike
house looking after the same by the Order and direction of the said John
ffrench on the twenty ninth day of April last George Roberts of Ware...,
Thomas Salmon of the same and William Wheatley of the same Bargemen Did
in a riotous manner come to the said Turnpike house and did then and
there Assault and beat him the said Edward Want. It is ordered by
the Court that the said George Roberts, Thomas Salmon and William
Wheatley do severally personally appear before the said Commissioners at
their next Court of Sewers...to answer the said Complaint." (NA Rail
845/53) Unfortunately, there is no further mention of this in the
Minutes.

On 3.11.1779, it was ordered that “ Mr Edgerly who now proposed to build
the half Lock near Carthagena Lock and repair that Lock (the Surveyor
not having repaired the same according to a former order of this Trust)
according to Mr Whitworth’s Plan and particular and his own proposal and
estimate for the same. Do build such Half Lock and repair Carthagena
Lock under the Inspection and to the approbation of Mr Whitworth the
Engineer for this Trust for the sum of £152.” (NA Rail 845/5). However, a week later Mr Edgerly was ordered "to
suspend such work until further order of the Trust...(NA
Rail 845/51)

On 15.7.1799 the minutes
recorded that “Carthagena was to be rebuilt during a two-week stoppage”
(NA Rail 845/7). On 21.6.1825 “a new lock was to be prepared”. (
NA Rail 845/9)

The lock was rebuilt in
1827. On 17.4.1852 "resolved that a new Lock house be erected at
Carthagena Lock...but without a pigstye .”
(NA Rail 845/14).

20.8.1853 "The winter
floods have cut into the sharp turn of the river below Broxbourne Bridge
and thus carried away the towing path.. The most beneficial and cheapest
plan in the end would be to make a new cut and Towing Path across Mr
Bosanquet's field...the cost would be £300 against £200 for
repairs....(Mr Bosanquet would) be happy to...give ... the necessary
land. This will be a better improvement than the great cut across
Nazeing Marsh (see map above) authorised by the Act of 1850 which would
cost £4000".Nathaniel Beardmore (NA Rail 845/14)

On 26.10.1877, it was recommended that “the roof
be taken off (the lock house) and two bedrooms built on top – new windows – boarded
floors to be placed over present concrete ones downstairs. Earth
closet to be provided. Some of the elder trees and the old
fence in front to be cut down” (NA Rail 845/21) Although
plans were drawn up (see below), the improvements were never made.

LMA ACC 2423/P042

A survey made in
November 1878 shows the layout of the lock and weir, showing the old
lockhouse , illustrated in the photograph above.

LMA ACC 2423/P341

On 20.4.1883, the unaltered lock house was insured for
£100 (NA Rail 845/23).

On 14.11.1884, Mr Child, the Engineer,
reported "The sanitary arrangements at this lock have been carried out
and I am having the lockhouse thoroughly repaired and when completed it
will be as commodious and comfortable as can be required" (NMA ACC
2423/002)

In 1920, C Lambert was
offered post of lock keeper and accepted it but after his wife had seen the
cottage she would not allow him to take it. (LMA
ACC 2423/018)

At the meeting of
19.7.1935, it was recorded that W J Hayward (of Hoddesdon), was the
successful tenderer for a new house at a price of £647.16.11. (NA
Rail 845/119)

LMA ACC 2423/P2674

On 1.2.1936 the new lock house was
“complete and ready” at a final cost of £800. This building is the same
as the house at the lock today, with the exception of having had another
wing added.

LMA ACC 2423/P1892

The site plan for the
new lock built in 1922, showing the outline of the old lock keeper's
house, some of which still remains.

The origin of the name

Like Portobello Lock at
Ware, Carthagena Turnpike was named to commemorate a battle in the War of
Jenkins' Ear. Portobello Lock marks the victory in
1739 of the capture of Puerto Bello in Panama.

Carthagena Lock however, marks the defeat
of Admiral Vernon and the British Navy when they retired from the siege
of Cartagena in Spanish Columbia after four weeks of intense artillery
barrage in April 1741. Although they occupied the Fort of San
Miguel on the mainland they never succeeded in taking the town. On a
statue outside the fort, Don Blas, the Spanish leader, is portrayed with
only one eye, one arm and one leg, injuries sustained in a lifetime of
fighting. The plaques on each side are an ironic display of
reproductions of two victory coins prematurely struck by the British

Carthagena Lock

Census/Date

Name

Title

Wife

Location given by enumerator/Comments

Source Reference

9.1974 -2009

Peter Brill

Lock Keeper

10.12.1956 -1974

Arthur Ernest White

Lock keeper

Appointed at £7.14.11 plus 5/- on call
allowance (emigrated to South Africa)

LCB Records

9.6.1948

E W Thompson

Lock keeper

to £5.5.0.; To £5.7.0 on 2.8.1950;
Retired 16.11.1956

LCB Records

23.1.1941

Ernest Wilfred Thompson (52)

Lock keeper

Appointed at £1.13.0 plus war bonus of 5/- per week with
house and uniform

NA Rail 845/125

10.1.1941

C Vent

Lock keeper

Resigned due to ill health. Wages were £1.16.3. per week.

NA Rail 845/125

10.1.1941 A medical certificate from Vent’s doctor states “that
he has inspected the lock-house and found it in such a damp
condition that it is unfit for habitation” The Engineer is
to look into the question of remedying the defects

1.4.1938

C Vent

Lock keeper

£1.11.0 to £1.13.0

NA Rail 845/122

1.4.1937

C Vent

Lock keeper

£1.10s to £1.11s (inc house and garden)

NA Rail 845/121

24.5.1935

H J Campkin (67)

Lock keeper

Retired after 14 years service, no longer fit for work. Pension
of 6/6 per week

16.8.1939 Died aged 71

NA Rail 845/119

NA Rail 845/123

23.7.1920

H J Campkin

Lock keeper

Plus 5/- per
week for looking after weir as well as lock

NA Rail
845/47

17.9.1920

H J Campkin (50)

Lock keeper

“an old
bargeman” appointed

NA Rail
845/47

17.9.1920

C Lambert

Offered post and accepted it but after his wife had seen the
cottage she would not allow him to take it.

LMA ACC
2423/018

3.7.1920

T Galloway (64)

Lock keeper

Died this
day. Employed by the Board since 30.9.1898 (actually
18.5.1895) Leaves a widow aged 55, married 8 years and 7
months Granted a gratuity of £15

NA Rail
845/47

14.11.1919

T Galloway

Lock keeper

27/- +
house, garden, and uniform

NA Rail
845/46

15.2.1918

T Galloway

Lock keeper

22/- per
week

NA Rail
845/66

1.12.1916

T Galloway

Lock keeper

£2 war bonus

NA Rail
845/43

4.3.1915

T Galloway

Lock keeper

+2/- per
week

NA Rail 845/42

28.2.1913

T Galloway

Lock keeper

Wages
increased by 1/- per week

NA Rail
845/40

2.4.1911

Andrew T Galloway (53)

Lock keeper

~

Carthagena Lock, Nazeing, Waltham Cross

RG14PN9787 RG78PN516 RD189 SD2 ED7 SN90

31.3.1901

Thomas A Galloway (43)

Lock keeper

~

Carthagena
Lock

Nazeing/11/4

30.9.1898

Thomas Galloway

Lock keeper

"...has been for
about 3 years past attending to the lock for Charville, for
which the Board allowed him 5/- per week. He is a steady man and
I would suggest we give him a trial at 16/- per week"

NA Rail
845/29 & LMA ACC 2423/006

27.9.1898

Charles Charville

Lock keeper

...the death of
Charles Charville...who for the past 20 years has been the Lock
keeper at Carthagena Lock. His sister, the widow of old Brimsden
the former lock keeper has been living with him since the death
of her husband, she is very old and infirm and should be taken
care of.

NA Rail
845/29 & LMA ACC 2423/006

17.5.1895
“Mrs Brimsden, sister to Charville and widow of J Brimsden the
former Lock keeper there be allowed 5/- per week…on the
condition that she is allowed to live in the cottage” (NA Rail
845/28). Mrs Emma Brimsden, died, aged 87,reported 6.4.1906 (NA
Rail 845/32)

5.4.1891

Charles Charvill (71)

Lock keeper

~

Lockhouse
(nr Crown Hotel)

Nazeing/10/4

5.4.1891

William Galloway (29)

Asst Lock keeper

~

Lockhouse
(nr Crown Hotel)

Nazeing/10/4

12.10.1888

Charvil

Lock keeper

* See below

NA Rail
845/25

* “A
memorial numerously signed by Traders and Bargemasters on the
River and many residents in Broxbourne and the neighbourhood,
praying the Board to reconsider their Resolution with regard to
Charvil and his sister of Carthagena Lock, having been read and
considered: it was resolved that the Resolution be suspended for
six months and the notice to Charvil to leave be removed, and
that the Clerk inform him that if he does not attend to his
duties in future satisfactorily he will be dismissed
immediately”

13.8.1888

Charvill

Lock keeper

Given a month’s notice to quit plus one months wages also his
sister ______Brimsden be granted allowance of 7/-per week during
the pleasure of
the board, in consideration of lengthened service of her late
husband William Brimsden, formerly Lock keeper there

NA Rail
845/25

20.7.1888

Charvil

Lock keeper

Notice to
quit. Sister (Widow Brimsden) given pension of 7/- per week

NA Rail
845/25

20.4.1883

C. Charvill

Lock keeper

Served 5
years, 18/- per week

NA Rail
845/23

4.4.1881

Charles Charvill (60)

Lock keeper

~

Carthagena
Weir

Nazeing/10/7

21.4.1877

William Charvill

Lock keeper

Appointed
at 18/- per week it being understood that he will keep the widow
(his sister) of the late William Brimsden there

NA Rail
845/21

2.4.1871

William Brimsden (65)

Lock keeper

~

River Lee

Nazeing/10/11

22.2.1871

William Brimsden (66)

"...and has just lost the entire sight of one eye and although
he may be strong enough to work the lock this partial loss of
sight may render his occupation dangerous...The Board..... may
grant him a pension "

NA Rail
845/18

8.4.1861

William Brimsden (55)

Lock keeper

~

Nazeing
Mead

Nazeing/10/11

17.11.1855

William Brimsden

Lock keeper

18/- per
week. Also carpenter from Carthagena to Dobbs Weir

NA Rail
845/14

21.10.1854

William Brimsden

Lock keeper

18/- per week

NA Rail 845/14

22.11.1851

William Brimsden

Lock keeper

Appointed at
18/- per week on Cundall’s resignation. For taking
care of the lock and Tumbling Bay and also for keeping in repair
the Navigation from Dobbs Weir to Kings Weir

NA Rail
845/14

30.3.1851

William Cundall (39)

Lock keeper

Ann

Nazing River
Lee bank

Nazeing/6b/9

7.6.1841

William Cundall (25)

Lock keeper

Ann

Nazeing Mead
(nr Meadgate)

Nazeing/7/5

16.10.1838

William Cundall

Lock keeper

Ex Kings
Weir to replace Catlin

NA Rail
845/11

18.9.1838

William Catlin

Lock keeper

Deceased

NA Rail
845/11

16.8.1831

William Catlin

Lock keeper

Ex Kings
Weir

NA Rail
845/10

19.7.1831

William Watts

Lock keeper

Retired

NA Rail
845/10

24.2.1814

William Watts

Lock keeper

Appointed

NA Rail
845/8

28.4.1814
“that Joseph Chossey…lost his life in discharge of his Duty And
the Clerk having reported that no precedent appears that any
remuneration has ever been made for such a loss to the Family of
any Servant of this Trust. It is now resolved …that the Widow
of the deceased be relieved by an allowance of ten pounds a
year… (NA Rail 845/8)